What Homeowners Should Know About Water Damage Claims

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Whether caused by bursting pipes or a natural disaster, water damage can cause major destruction to homes in Kansas City, MO. However, many homeowners have questions about making a claim, and learning more about the process before a disaster occurs can help to put homeowners’ minds at ease.

What Are Common Causes of This Type of Damage?

There are various reasons homes may become flooded. Common sources of flood damage include:

• Toilet overflows
• Burst or leaky pipes
• Flooding as a result of natural disasters
• Roof leaks
  

What Will Your Policy Cover?

Though individual insurance policies vary in coverage, most home insurance policies will cover the costs of flood damage that occurs accidentally or suddenly. For example, the majority of policies are likely to cover the costs of flood damage that was caused by bursting pipes or a natural disaster. However, coverage often varies when it comes to secondary damage that occurs after a flood, such as mold growth or deteriorating building materials. Additionally, damage that slowly occurs over time, such as leaking pipes, may not be covered.

What Happens After You File a Claim?

Once you know what costs will and will not be covered, the restoration process can begin. Often, it is helpful to contact experts in flood damage restoration. Professionals will first fix the broken pipe, leaky roof or any other issue that has caused the flooding. Then, efforts to prevent mold growth and the deterioration of building materials will begin. Once all water has been removed from the home and the area affected is dry and clean, the home will finally be restored.

Though flooding from bursting pipes and other sources can’t always be prevented, it’s often useful to learn about what your insurance policy is likely to cover in the event of a disaster. Knowing what coverage your policy will provide can help you better prepare yourself and your home for water damage.